What is the ACT?

 The ACT (American College Testing) is a standardized entrance test which is followed by many colleges in the United States to make an admission decision.

The ACT is considered as a part of the admission process, where the ACT scores determine the eligibility of a student whether or not to get into colleges/universities. This test also has an impact on the scholarships as it is one of the candidate's financial aid eligibility determining elements.

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The ACT Test

This test has five subject areas namely English, Maths, Science, Reading, and Writing. Out of which writing section is optional, the students taking the ACT test may or may not take the writing section. However the writing section is considered in the composite score, but still, the writing section has its own perks, which we’ll be seeing later.

There is one good news that the test takers should keep in mind is that there is no negative marking, so even if you don’t know the answer, try covering all the questions by guessing it.

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ACT Format

The ACT test composes of multiple-choice questions for the four sections, which are English, Maths, Science, and Reading sections.

And the writing section includes one essay and the total time allowed is 3 hours 35 minutes.

The following table shows the breakdown of each section with the time limit and content covered in each section.

Section	Number of Questions	Total Time	Content Covered
English	75 questions	45 minutes	Grammar, sentence structure, organization & style
Maths	60 questions	60 minutes	Trigonometry, coordinate geometry & plane geometry and Algebra 1, 2 and 3
Science	40 questions	35 minutes	Problem-solving, interpretation analysis, evaluation, and reasoning.
Reading	40 questions	35 minutes	Reading and comprehension of what is implied indirectly or directly stated.
Writing (optional)	1 essay	40 minutes	Writing skills
Total	215 question and 1 essay	215 minutes

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How is the ACT Scored?

Now, As you know the ACT test format and total time, you may also have to know how the ACT is scored, because by understanding how the scoring mechanism works, it gives you the advantage to set clear goals and focus on it without distraction, also helps you score more by being aware of where to focus and how.

There are four sections, also known as the subject areas, each section is given a scaled score ranging from 1 to 36. These ACT scores are then averaged to arrive at the composite score which also ranges between 1 and 36. The composite score is the final score which the colleges/universities take into consideration.

The scaled scores are nothing but the raw scores from each section which are being converted using a standard scaling system.

These raw scores are the total number of questions answered correctly in each section.

How are the raw scores calculated?

Many standardized tests such as the ACT, SAT uses the scaled scores to make sure that their scores are consistent throughout the multiple test dates.

The following table shows the categories based on which the raw scores are calculated for each section.

Sections	Categories	Marks per category
English	Production of Writing (POW)	23
	Knowledge of Language (KLA)	12
	Conventions of Standard English (CSE)	40
Mathematics	Preparing for Higher Math (PHM)	35
	Integrating Essential Skills (IES)	25
Reading	Key Ideas & Details (KID)	25
	Craft & Structure (CS)	11
	Integration of Knowledge & Ideas (IKI)	4
Science	Interpretation of Data (IOD)	18
	Scientific Investigation(SIN)	12
	Evaluation of Models, Interferneces & Experimental Results (EMI)	10

 

Now if you are thinking about how are the scaled scores calculated from the raw scores, the following chart shows the raw scores to a scaled score conversion.

Source: act.org

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What is ACT Percentiles?

The ACT percentiles are rankings used for the comparison of your ACT score with other test takers by letting you know and compare how many other students score higher than or lower than or even equal to you.

For example, if you get 65th percentile, then that means you have scored more than 65% of other test-takers. But remember that percentiles are not grades, they don’t represent your position out of 100.

The following table shows the percentile for each section along with the composite score percentile comparison

National Norms for the ACT Test Scores

English	Math	Reading	Science	Composite	Score
100	100	100	100	100	36
99	99	99	99	99	35
96	99	97	98	99	34
94	98	95	97	98	33
93	97	92	96	97	32
91	96	90	95	95	31
90	95	87	94	93	30
88	93	84	92	91	29
86	91	82	90	88	28
84	88	80	88	85	27
82	83	77	85	82	26
79	79	74	82	78	25
75	74	71	77	74	24
70	69	66	70	69	23
65	65	61	64	64	22
59	60	54	57	58	21
54	57	49	50	52	20
48	53	43	43	46	19
44	47	38	37	40	18
40	40	32	30	33	17
36	31	27	24	27	16
30	19	22	18	20	15
23	10	18	13	14	14
18	3	13	9	9	13
14	1	9	6	4	12
11	1	5	4	1	11
6	1	2	2	1	10
3	1	1	1	1	9
1	1	1	1	1	8
1	1	1	1	1	7
1	1	1	1	1	6
1	1	1	1	1	5
1	1	1	1	1	4
1	1	1	1	1	3
1	1	1	1	1	2
1	1	1	1	1	1
Mean	20.2	20.5	21.3	20.8	__

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Number of Trials Allowed for the ACT

The applicants are allowed to take the test maximum up to 12 times in total, irrespective of the time and test date, the ACT test is administered about seven times a year mostly in the months of September, October, December, February, April, June, and July.

It is an option for the applicants to take the test 12 times, but it is not mandatory for you to do that unless you want to waste your time and money by attempting one exam after the other.

But it is recommended that you take the test at least two times, as the first attempt can be considered as a trial in order to get a sense of how the ACT test looks like so that you can plan and prepare yourself timewise and knowledge-wise efficiently.

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How to Prepare for the ACT?

It makes sense if you panic thinking about entrance exams, we all do. One primary reason is when you don’t have a proper preparation guide for the ACT. Well don’t worry, here are a few tips that help you prepare for the ACT test, and most importantly it might help build your confidence towards the ACT test.

ACT Registration

The first thing to keep in mind is that register for the ACT test, based on the date which is at least 3 months away from the date of registration, and location which convenient enough for you to travel to the test center without any pressure.

Set a Goal

A person without a goal is like a bird without wings, wasn’t that well said? Yes set a clear goal and focus on it you can even score the highest if your goal is fixed to that.

Plan a Study Schedule

Creating a study schedule is as important as setting a goal. Though you can take the test 12 times, you need not waste your time and money. So planning the limited time properly can help score as well.

Work on your Weakness

Learn to identify your weakness, try to analyze which section you’re bad at and try working on it until you’re no longer bad at it. And also adapting strategies would help you in times of need.

Practice

It won’t matter how long and hard you study, the test preparation is incomplete with a practice test. Because practice is the only thing that can truly improve your skill and scores in the test.

Take Rest

Once you’re ready for the ACT Test, calm yourself down and try to take good sleep the previous day, remember a good sleep is different from oversleeping. We are talking about good sleep here. And also don’t forget to have a balanced protein-filled breakfast.

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Also, Read How to Prepare for the ACT Test?

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How to score high for the ACT?

The ACT test score ranges from 1-36, one being the lowest and 36 being the highest score possible in the ACT. though the 36 may look a small number. But don’t underestimate the ACT test.

According to ACT.org Every year out of millions of test-takers, hardly a few students get into the top scorer list.

scores	Number of Students	Percentage of the test-takers
36	3,741	0.195%
35	14,928	0.780%
34	21,836	1.140%
33	26,930	1.406%

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ACT Score for Colleges and Universities

A good ACT score may vary depending on the colleges/universities that you’re aiming for, because a good score for college may not be considered as a good score by another college.

For example: if you’re aiming to join Arizona State University, then 28 is considered a good score, but if you’re aiming to join the Yale University 30 or 31 is considered a good ACT score.

The following are the list of most popular colleges for your ACT score with acceptance rate.

30 ACT Score

Rank	College Name	ACT 25th Percentile	ACT 75th Percentile	Acceptance Rate
1	Stanford University	31	35	5
2	University of Southern California	30	33	17
3	Harvard University	32	35	5
4	Northeastern University	31	34	29
5	University of Pennsylvania	32	35	9
6	Cornell University	31	34	29
7	Massachusetts Institute of Technology	33	35	14
8	Rice University	32	35	15
9	Columbia University	32	35	7
10	Duke University	31	34	9
11	Brown University	31	34	9
12	University of  California-Berkeley	31	34	17
13	Yale University	32	35	6
14	Boston University	30	33	31
15	Washington University in St.Louis	32	34	17

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25-29 ACT Scores

Rank	College Name	ACT 25th Percentile	ACT 75th Percentile	Acceptance Rate
1	New York University	29	33	32
2	The University of California-Los Angeles	28	33	18
3	The University of Michigan- Ann Arbour	29	33	29
4	The University of Texas- Austin	26	32	40
5	Penn State	25	29	56
6	Boston University	28	32	29
7	University of Florida	27	31	46
8	The University of North Carolina- Chapel Hill	28	33	30
9	University of  Virginia	29	33	30
10	University of Georgia	26	31	54
11	Tulane University	29	32	26
12	Purdue University	25	31	56
13	University of Washington	26	32	45
14	Syracuse University	25	29	52
15	University of Miami	28	32	38

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20-24 ACT Score

Rank	College Name	ACT 25th Percentile	ACT 75th Percentile	Acceptance Rate
1	Texas A&M University	24	30	67
2	James Madison University	22	27	72
3	Temple University	22	28	52
4	Michigan State University	24	29	66
5	San Diego State University	23	28	35
6	The University of California-Irvine	24	30	41
7	Arizona State University	22	29	70
8	University of Delaware	22	29	70
9	California State University- Long Beach	20	26	32
10	Indiana University- Bloomington	24	30	79
11	University of San Francisco	23	28	71
12	The University of Alabama	23	31	53
13	High Point University	21	26	79
14	University of Central Florida	24	28	50
15	Liberty University	21	28	24

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16-19 ACT Score

Rank	College Name	ACT 25th Percentile	ACT 75th Percentile	Acceptance Rate
1	San Francisco State University	18	24	68
2	California State University- Fullerton	19	24	48
3	California State University-Chico	19	24	65
4	North Carolina A&T State University	18	23	48
5	California State University-Northridge	16	23	48
6	Old Dominion	18	25	85
7	California Baptist University	19	24	64
8	Florida A&M University	19	24	31
9	Stockton University	19	24	77
10	California State University- Sacramento	17	22	72
11	Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania	18	23	78
12	Western Michigan University	19	25	82
13	La Salle University	19	25	77
14	Portland State University	19	25	89
15	Clark Atlanta University	18	21	72

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ACT Score below 16

Rank	College Name	ACT 25th Percentile	ACT 75th Percentile	Acceptance Rate
1	California State University- Los Angeles	15	20	64
2	Prairie View A&M University	15	19	85
3	Virginia State University	15	19	94
4	California State University- Dominguez Hills	15	19	48
5	Texas Southern University	15	19	51
6	Bowie State University	15	19	41
7	Alabam State University	15	19	46
8	Bethune-Cookman University	15	18	64
9	New Jersey City University	15	17	85
10	Dean College	15	17	85
11	Lincoln University of Pennsylvania	15	19	87
12	Coppin State University	15	18	40
13	South Carolina State University	14	17	86
14	Fort Valley State University	10	19	26
15	Central State University	15	18	42